After Health Dept. closure, Josephine hoping for a quick reopening

BY SAM SPOKONY | A Tribeca restaurant that was shut down due to rats and roaches may have a chance to reopen this week, according to a restaurant employee.

Josephine, located in 40 Harrison St., at Greenwich St., was closed down on Dec. 4 by the city’s Department of Health following an inspection that showed, among other things, “evidence of rats or live rats present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.”

The Health Dept. also said the French restaurant had a problem with dead roaches and various flies in its kitchen, as well as carrying an expired food service permit. In addition, D.O.H. cited the bistro for not properly protecting food from sources of potential contamination.

But during a phone call on Monday, a Josephine employee said the restaurant’s owner had a scheduled meeting with the city that day, and that the establishment expected to be re-inspected with the next day or two.

The employee also said that, based on what she knew of the situation, a positive inspection this week could allow the restaurant to reopen for business the following day.

She said Josephine’s owner did not want to comment until after the inspection.

Contrary to some reporting on this issue, a Health Dept. spokesperson said that the shutdown was not prompted by any outside complaints, and occurred as the result of a regularly scheduled inspection.

This place is disgusting.Should have been shut down a long time ago.I have seen roaches there and the food doesn’t come for hours and is sparse and overpriced.They also dont know the difference between egg and egg whites.